Lock Upp: Riteish Deshmukh breaks silence on Harshad-Shivangi finale twist

TV actor Harshad Chopda's decision to give up his spot in the Lock Upp Season 2 grand finale week to save actor, friend Shivangi Joshi has become one of the show's biggest talking points. As the dramatic twist continues to divide viewers, host Riteish Deshmukh has shared his take on Harshad's decision and the criticism surrounding it.The latest episode sparked intense debate online. While many viewers praised Harshad's gesture as selfless, others accused Shivangi of allegedly guilt-tripping him into sacrificing his place in the finale.Addressing the conversation in an interview with Variety India, Riteish said the dynamics inside the reality show are far more layered than they appear from the outside."I guess, when you care for someone as a friend, then you support them. It is not a one-way thing on the show. Even Shreya and Shilpa look out for each other. You make partners in the game to figure out how to play. It is difficult, as at times you want to play together and at times, you need to play for yourself," Deshmukh said. He added, "These are calls you need to take. Eventually, there will be only one winner. I believe Harshad has played for himself too, and also looked out for Shivangi. Both of them also played as individuals. Sometimes, they take a stand for each other, which is wonderful to see."'I enjoyed everyone's journey'Riteish also maintained that he did not have a favourite contestant this season, saying he appreciated every participant's journey. "I have enjoyed everyone's journey. Everyone has had their own ups and downs, had great two-three weeks, followed by a quieter one or two weeks. But I think towards the finale, almost all rose to the occasion. They gave their best and it has been wonderful. I like all of them. I like Shreya Kalra, Shilpa Shinde, Yogesh Rawat, Akanksha Chaudhary, Ram Kapoor, Pamala Serena, everyone. I miss having Sunita Ji (Sunita Ahuja) in the show."What happened between Harshad-Shivangi?The dramatic twist unfolded after Harshad won the task and became the first finalist of Lock Upp Season 2. However, when Shreya Kalra used her special advantage to eliminate Shivangi Joshi, Harshad chose to surrender his finalist spot to keep her in the game.The decision resulted in Harshad's elimination, while Shivangi advanced in the competition, setting off one of the season's most heated debates on social media.Shreya Kalra, Yogesh Rawat, Shivangi Joshi, Shilpa Shinde, Ram Kapoor, Akanksha Chamola and Varun Singh entered the finale week. The grand finale is scheduled for the weekend.- EndsPublished On: Aug 4, 2026 14:15 IST